In Case You Wondered Why…
Israel used a ceasefire to starve Gazans and turn them and others against Hamas, making Israel’s goal of eliminating Hamas less objectionable to the international community and congruent to those of Abbas’ PA, and the governments of Jordan and Egypt.
Long term planning for the operation included a visit to Egypt by Israeli Foreign Minster to inform Mubarak of the operation. Not that his approval was needed, but his submissiveness was desired. Besides, the Israelis prefer if he doesn’t utter rhetorical phrases about human rights and shit like that when taken by surprise.
During the attack, Abbas visited Mubarak looking for a shoulder to cry on (yes, even though the attacks have his blessing he still has a faint heart and could not take all the bloodshed alone). He came out of the meeting repeating Israel’s line, handed to him via Mubarak: “Hamas could have prevented this attack,” a murder in which it was the victim.
The murderous air attacks are only the shock-and-awe phase. Israel will follow up with a massive ground invasion, root out everything and everybody belonging to Hamas, and bring back their security subcontractors in the PA.
Mohammed Dahlan, Abbas’ former security chief in Gaza, will be soon installed back in Gaza. Abbas will enter it as a liberator and Fayyad will visit with a fistful of dollars for some miniscule project such as a school or a street. And Gazans, well, they will have to accept that they are better off because, for one thing, they would have food now.
With the difference being that Israel decided to do the military action itself this time, we are back to 1995, when Fatah men, lead by Dahaln, clashed with Hamas in Gaza killing hundreds from both sides. Except that the struggle for Palestinian freedom and equality has never been more irreparable.
It is also a test for Obama. Gauging his response to the action from outside the Whitehouse will set the tone for what Israel gets out of him. With his chief of staff being a former IDF volunteer, it’s hard to see how he will see things any different than the IDF perspective. And the American stance of asking the rape victim to quit scratching the rapist will continue to the Washington Modus Operandi.
